In this section

NORTON

Norton is 5 km. south-west of Malmesbury. (fn. 1)
On Speed's map of 1611 the name Coloparle, in
error for Cole Park, was juxtaposed to the name
Norton, and Cole Park, a house 2 km. SSE. of
Malmesbury, was marked by no symbol. (fn. 2) As a
result Norton was named on later maps as Norton
Colepark or Norton Coleparle (fn. 3) and that addition
to the name was adopted. It appeared in ecclesiastical reference books in the 18th century (fn. 4) and on
census returns in the 19th. (fn. 5) The antiquary J. E.
Jackson, vicar of Norton 1846–91, persuaded the
bishop to drop the addition from the name of the
benefice, (fn. 6) and it went out of use generally in the
20th century.

The parish, a shallow V in shape, had two
detached portions, one to the north-east and one
to the south-east. Both adjoin Malmesbury common: the northern, an area called Starvall, was
perhaps assigned to the men of Norton in the
Middle Ages to replace rights on the common,
but the southern, which adjoins Bradfield wood
in Hullavington, is more likely to have been
ancient woodland, also assigned to Norton in the
Middle Ages, and later cleared. Norton parish
measured c. 990 a. (c. 401 ha.) in 1840 and was
reduced to 928 a. (376 ha.) in 1884 when the
detached areas were transferred to, respectively,
Foxley and Hullavington. (fn. 7) In 1934 the whole of
Foxley parish, which included Starvall and the
main part of Bremilham parish, was transferred
to Norton parish (fn. 8) and increased it to 835 ha.
(2,063 a.).

As might be expected of long established boundaries in an area of gentle relief Norton's followed
streams and in several places roads which are
apparently ancient. The modern boundaries were
broadly similar to those of the main part of the
parish recited in the 10th or 11th century when
they followed the Roman Foss Way and roads
called King's Way, Borough Way, and Narrow
Way or Small Way. The more likely of two interpretations suggests that the road which divided
Norton parish from Malmesbury common was
King's Way, that Borough Way was the road which
divided Norton from Foxley north-east of Norton
village, and that Small Way was the road which
divided those parishes north-west of Norton village. (fn. 9) The streams divide Norton from Foxley
to the north and from Hullavington to the south.

Forest Marble clay outcrops in the west part
of the old Norton parish, Cornbrash in the centre,
and Kellaways Clay in the east. South-east of Norton village Kellaways Clay also forms an island
in the Cornbrash. The land, at c. 100 m. above
sea level, is nearly flat. It is drained north-eastwards by tributaries of the Sherston branch of the
Bristol Avon, two of which meet near Norton village. The south-east boundary stream flows into
Gauze brook which joins the Avon south of
Malmesbury. In some places the streams have
deposited small amounts of alluvium. (fn. 10) The small
parish was rich in meadow land, the Cornbrash
favours tillage, and the clays favour pasture. (fn. 11)
Until the mid 20th century pastoral farming
outweighed cultivation, (fn. 12) and, especially in the
19th century, there were many ponds. (fn. 13) East of
the village part of Maidford farm, with lodges,
lone drives, and avenues, was given the appearance
of a park in the later 19th century. (fn. 14)

The Bath—Cirencester section of the Foss Way
was in 1987 a road for only one short stretch on
the old boundary of Norton, and was derelict for
most of its course there. No modern main road
touches the parish. Four roads, from Easton Grey,
Foxley, Sherston, and Hullavington, converge on
the village. The first two meet at its north end
at a ford. The Easton Grey road, Small Way, was
often called Tetbury Way; (fn. 15) the Foxley road, possibly Borough Way, was called Honey Lane from
1773 or earlier. (fn. 16) Beside the Hullavington road the
wide verges were used as gardens in the earlier
19th century. (fn. 17)

Norton was mentioned in the early 10th century. (fn. 18) Few prehistoric remains have been discovered in the old parish, (fn. 19) and Norton village has
never been large or populous. There were only
23 poll-tax payers in 1377, (fn. 20) and 16th-century taxation assessments were low. (fn. 21) The population of
the parish was 94 in 1801. From 89 in 1811 it
rose to a peak of 123 in 1851. It had fallen to
101 by 1881 and to 99 by 1891 after the transfer
of the detached portions, the northern with 4 inhabitants. The population was 117 in 1901, 85 in
1911, and 90 in 1931. After Foxley and Bremilham
had been added to it, Norton parish had 170 inhabitants in 1951, (fn. 22) 123 in 1981. (fn. 23)

Norton is a small nucleated village lying on each
side of the Sherston road in the centre of the parish. South of the road are the church and Manor
(formerly Church) Farm, a farmhouse and buildings possibly on the site of those of the demesne
of Norton manor. (fn. 24) Manor Farm has a tall early
17th-century west block to which a lower east
range may have been attached. In the 1820s a new
east range was built and the appearance of the
south front of the house was unified by a central
entrance beneath a pediment and by Venetian windows to the ground-floor rooms. (fn. 25) The farm buildings include a possibly 18th-century barn and a
late 20th-century dairy. North of the road Norton
Manor was built in 1623, (fn. 26) and Buckland Farm
is another 17th-century farmhouse which was later
extended. Near Buckland Farm and Norton
Manor are large stone barns, one of which has
been converted for residence. South of the road
a row of several cottages is apparently 19th-century, a cottage was built in 1856, (fn. 27) a pair of
estate cottages was built between 1900 and 1910, (fn. 28)
another pair of estate cottages was built c. 1955, (fn. 29)
and two private houses were built later. Near the
ford at the north end of the village Elstubs was
a house in the mid 17th century. (fn. 30) A row of four
cottages was built on its site in the 19th century.
Two rows of cottages and a small, apparently 18thcentury, house were nearby in 1840. (fn. 31) The house
was licensed as the Vine Tree in 1890: (fn. 32) it was
a public house in 1987. In the late 19th century
one of the rows of cottages was demolished; (fn. 33) the
other was rebuilt as a house.

Bremilham, Foxley, and Norton c. 1840

East of the village Maidford and Gorsey Leaze
are farmsteads which may have stood in the 17th
century. Maidford has a small farmhouse, possibly
of 17th-century origin, near the centre of extensive
buildings. North-east of it a barn is dated 1840
and there are later 20th-century farm buildings.
South-west of it a large new house was built c.
1890 (fn. 34) and extended to the west in the earlier 20th
century and c. 1970. The farmhouse of Gorsey
Leaze was rebuilt in 1877. (fn. 35) The farm buildings,
most of which are 19th-century, incorporate an
old two-storeyed building, possibly part of an older
house. Another house was built nearby c. 1910. (fn. 36)
Dispersed settlement in the parish increased after
the 17th century. West of the village Fosse may
have been a farmstead in 1742, (fn. 37) as it was in 1773 (fn. 38)
and later. The farmhouse was rebuilt in the later
19th century. Beside the Foss Way near Fosse
Farm a house called Little House stood in the 18th
century. (fn. 39) A possibly 18th-century cottage at Starvall was a public house called the Royal Oak in
1875. (fn. 40) It remained open until c. 1925. (fn. 41) A barn
stood west of that cottage in 1840: (fn. 42) extensive farm
buildings called Highfield Farm were erected
around its site in the later 20th century, and a
new house was built near the Royal Oak in 1986.
New buildings and a farmhouse were erected
north-west of the village for Norton farm between
1900 and 1911. (fn. 43)

Manor and other Estates.

King Athelstan granted NORTON, containing 5 mansae, to
Malmesbury abbey in the period 934–9. (fn. 44) The
abbey kept it until the Dissolution. (fn. 45) In 1547 the
Crown granted it to Sir John Brydges (fn. 46) (cr. Baron
Chandos 1554, d. 1557), (fn. 47) and it was inherited
in turn by his son Edmund, Lord Chandos (fn. 48) (d.
1573), and Edmund's son Giles, Lord Chandos
(d. 1594). (fn. 49) Apparently in 1577 and 1589 Lord
Chandos sold the manor in three portions. (fn. 50)

In 1589 Alexander Staples bought the demesne
farmhouse, some demesne land, and land in the
east part of the parish later Maidford farm and
Gorsey Leaze farm, and in the same year Richard
Estcourt (d. 1611) of Long Newnton (now Glos.)
and his son Edmund bought farmsteads, land in
the south part of the parish later Manor farm, land
in the east part, and the detached part called Starvall. (fn. 51) Staples (d. 1590) (fn. 52) sold his land in 1589
to William Jones (d. 1610) and it passed in turn
to Jones's son John (fn. 53) (d. 1611) and John's son
William, a minor in 1611. (fn. 54) In 1615 Jones sold
it to Edmund Estcourt. (fn. 55) The lordship of Norton
manor and, apart from Norton farm in the west
and north-west, (fn. 56) nearly all the land of the parish
descended from Edmund Estcourt (d. 1651) of
Sherston Pinkney in turn to his son Sir Thomas
(d. 1683), Sir Thomas's son Sir Thomas (d.
1702), and that Sir Thomas's son Thomas (d.
1704) who devised the estate to his sister Elizabeth,
wife of Richard Cresswell. (fn. 57) In 1714 the Cresswells
sold it to Sir Edward Gould (d. 1728) who devised
it for life to his wife Frances (d. 1738) and afterwards to his grandnephew Edward Gould (d. c.
1775). That Edward was succeeded by his son
Edward who in 1798 offered the estate for sale
in portions. (fn. 58)

In 1798 Gorsey Leaze farm, 149 a. in 1840
including the parish's detached lands to the south-east, and the lordship of Norton manor were
bought by Samuel Williams. In 1821 they were
sold by Williams to William Whieldon, in 1823
by Whieldon to Charles Wilkins, and in 1824 by
Wilkins to R. H. Gaby (d. 1829). (fn. 59) Gaby's heir
was his nephew John Gaby (d. 1830), whose own
heirs, his siblings Thomas and Mary Anne Gaby,
sold the estate in 1830 to Joseph Neeld (d. 1856). (fn. 60)
It passed as part of Neeld's Grittleton estate to
his brother John (cr. a baronet 1859, d. 1891) and
in turn to Sir John's sons Sir Algernon (d. 1900),
and Sir Audley (fn. 61) (d. 1941). (fn. 62) Soon after 1910 Gorsey
Leaze farm was bought, almost certainly from Sir
Audley Neeld, by Hugh Raymond-Barker who c.
1925 sold it to A. S. C. Browne, the owner until
c. 1937. From c. 1948 the farm belonged to K.
J. Gagen whose son Mr. B. A. Gagen sold it in
portions in the 1980s. (fn. 63) The farmhouse and 20 a.
were sold in 1986. (fn. 64)

Manor farm, 305 a. in 1840, (fn. 65) was bought c. 1798
by William Walker (fn. 66) (d. 1830). (fn. 67) It passed to his
sister Elizabeth Walker (d. 1833), who devised it
to her brother-in-law Giles Canter for his life or
widowerhood and thereafter to Giles's son
Joseph. (fn. 68) In 1840 Joseph Canter owned the farm. (fn. 69)
At his death in 1865 it passed to his daughter and
her husband H. A. Neck. In 1872 Neck sold it
to W. Matthews, a Bristol drysalter, who in 1877
sold it to John Bush. (fn. 70) In 1920 the farm was
bought, apparently from Bush's relict, by W. E.
Smith (d. 1939), whose trustees in 1940 sold it
to Exeter College, Oxford. In 1954 and 1978 the
college sold it in portions to Smith's grandson Mr.
C. D. Smith, the owner in 1987. (fn. 71)

Maidford farm, 149 a. in 1840, (fn. 72) was bought
c. 1798 by John Bennett (fn. 73) (d. 1819). Bennett was
succeeded by his son John Bennett (fn. 74) (fl. 1840) and
by the younger John's son J. D. G. Bennett, who
was succeeded as owner in turn by his relict
Marianne (d. 1882) and sons John (d. 1886) and
Richard. In 1887 Richard Bennett sold the farm
to Malcolm Macleod. (fn. 75) The estate was offered for
sale in 1894 (fn. 76) and may have been bought by W.
W. Turnor of Pinkney Park who owned it in
1910. (fn. 77) Before 1928 Turnor sold it to W. H. Haydon (fn. 78) (d. 1930). (fn. 79) Before 1934 Haydon's executors
sold it to H. J. Melville, who c. 1946 sold it to
H. J. Blackborow. (fn. 80) In 1958 Blackborow sold the
estate to Lt.-Col. E. G. V. Northey, who sold
it to J. Salmond in 1966. Salmond sold it to C.
Bunbury who sold it to Mr. D. Brown, the owner
in 1987. (fn. 81)

Buckland farm, 83 a. in 1840, was bought c.
1798 by William Kilmister (d. 1847), the tenant
of the adjoining Norton farm. Kilmister devised
it to his nephew William Kilmister, on whose death
in 1886 it passed to his daughter, the wife of W.
A. Notley. (fn. 82) In 1910 Mrs. M. J. Notley owned
the farm. (fn. 83) It was bought by Isita Wilson in 1917
and has since been part of Norton farm. (fn. 84)

In 1577 Giles, Lord Chandos, was licensed to
alienate land in Norton to Thomas Best and
Anthony Bonner and it is likely that Norton farm
was sold in that year to Best, (fn. 85) who is known to
have been a freeholder in Norton. Best and his
widow Elizabeth had both died by 1607. (fn. 86) Norton
farm was possibly bought by John Workman and
in 1615 belonged to his son Thomas, (fn. 87) who in 1616
added to it a house and 2 a. bought from Edmund
Estcourt. (fn. 88) Thomas Workman (d. 1650) (fn. 89) was succeeded by his son Richard who sold the farm to
John Jacob in 1652. (fn. 90) Jacob (d. 1705) was
succeeded by his son John (d. 1728 or 1729). That
John's son John (d. 1776) (fn. 91) sold the land, almost
certainly in 1749, to Henry Fox (fn. 92) (d. 1774), from
1758 the owner of the adjoining Foxley manor and
from 1763 Baron Holland. Norton farm, 264 a.
in 1840, passed with Foxley manor to Stephen,
Lord Holland (d. 1774), to his relict Mary (d.
1778), to Henry, Lord Holland (d. 1840), to his
relict Elizabeth (d. 1845), to Henry, Lord Holland
(d. 1859), to his relict Mary (d. 1889), to Leopold
Fox-Powys (d. 1893), to Thomas Powys, Lord
Lilford (d. 1896), and to John, Lord Lilford (d.
1945). (fn. 93) In 1900 Lord Lilford sold it to C. H.
Fenwick who in 1911 sold it (fn. 94) to trustees of William
Wilson including his relict Isita Wilson (d. 1939).
Buckland farm was later added to it. Norton farm
passed to the Wilsons' son Noel who in 1967 conveyed it to his daughter June and her husband
Count Jan Badeni, the owners in 1987. (fn. 95) Norton
Manor (fn. 96) was built by Thomas Workman. The
southern part, a main east-west range with a short
back wing at each end, has on the south front a
two-storeyed central porch decorated with classical
pilasters and inscribed 1623. That was probably
the full extent of the house in 1630 and 1631 when
Workman settled separate parts of it on the marriages of, respectively, himself and his son
Richard. (fn. 97) By 1652 a new north range had been
built. (fn. 98) It abutted both the wings and apparently
left a small open courtyard between them. From
the early 18th century the house was apparently
tenanted, and the two parts may have been separately occupied, as they were later. (fn. 99) When Lord
Holland visited the estate in 1856 he found the
house in poor repair, but had the south range restored for his own occasional occupation. The
extent of the restoration has been obscured by later
alterations: (fn. 100) gables were possibly removed from
the south front, the roof of the south range was
possibly replaced by the present hipped roof, and
a fireplace was lined with tiles bearing the letter
H. The north range may have continued in use
as a farmhouse and it kept its tall gables. After
he bought the house in 1900 C. H. Fenwick reunited the two parts and added to, repaired, and
altered it: (fn. 101) he demolished a small stair turret in
the central court, which until then was otherwise
roofed at first-floor level, and made the whole court
a stair hall; he rearranged the rooms on both main
floors behind the south front, extended the north
part of the house, and added an entrance vestibule
and bay windows on the east; and he improved
the surroundings of the house by demolishing
adjacent farm buildings. Barns and a dovecot east
of the house were retained, and gardens were laid
out to the south and west. A two-storeyed west
porch was added to the house in 1925. (fn. 102)

John Jacob (d. 1742), the nephew of John Jacob
(d. 1728 or 1729), owned a small farm, Fosse,
in the south-west corner of the parish, presumably
taken from Norton farm, and devised it to his
cousin John Jacob (d. 1776). It passed in 1776
to that John's nephew Sir Robert Buxton, Bt. (d.
1839), and was inherited by Sir Robert's son Sir
John (d. 1842), whose heir was his son Sir Robert
(d. 1888). (fn. 103) The farm, 20 a. in 1840, (fn. 104) was sold
to Joseph Neeld in 1852 (fn. 105) and with Gorsey Leaze
farm it remained part of the Grittleton estate.
Between 1910 and 1928 it was bought by J. T.
Hitchings. (fn. 106) In the later 20th century the land was
bought by Mr. C. D. Smith and added to Manor
farm. (fn. 107)

In 1222 Malmesbury abbey was licensed to
appropriate Norton church. (fn. 108) It held it until the
Dissolution. (fn. 109) The RECTORY estate apparently
included 1 yardland and 4 a. of meadow in 1341. (fn. 110)
That land was apparently absorbed by Norton
manor and the estate later consisted of no more
than tithes. It was granted with Norton manor in
1547, (fn. 111) and passed with the manor in the Brydges
family, (fn. 112) to Alexander Staples, (fn. 113) and in the Jones,
Estcourt, and Gould families. (fn. 114) In 1589 it was said
to comprise all the great tithes from Norton. (fn. 115)
Tithes were disputed in the period 1613–15
between the vicar and the lessee of the rectory
estate: the vicar claimed great tithes from a small
part of Norton farm and the lessee denied the
vicar's right to any tithe from Norton. (fn. 116) The rectory estate thereafter seems to have consisted of
the great tithes from nearly all the parish, and no
small tithe. (fn. 117) The great tithes from the farms
owned by members of the Estcourt and Gould
families in the 17th and 18th centuries were
merged with the farms, (fn. 118) and the farms sold c.
1798 were said to be tithe free. (fn. 119) In the early 18th
century John Jacob (d. 1728 or 1729) held a lease
of tithes, presumably those arising on his own
land. (fn. 120) It is likely that Jacob or a successor bought
those tithes since by the early 19th century the
great tithes from Fosse farm and from the greater
part of Norton farm had been merged with the
land. In 1840 the tithes which had been the rectory
estate, all belonging to the owners of the lands
on which they arose, were valued at a notional
£78 and commuted. (fn. 121)

Economic History.

Norton had land for
8 ploughteams in 1086, and only 5 teams were
on it. Of the 5 hides of its Norton estate Malmesbury abbey had in demesne 2½ hides on which there
were 2 teams and 5 servi. On the other half of
the estate 7 villani and 3 coscets had a total of
3 teams. There was pasture 2 furlongs by 1 furlong
and a mill and 6 a. of meadow. (fn. 122)

The demesne may have been in hand in the early
13th century when, with a stock of 16 oxen, much
of it may have been ploughed. The customary tenants, whose rents totalled £ 1 12s., presumably cultivated it. (fn. 123) In the later 13th century, when the
abbey paid for new farm buildings at Norton, it
may still have been in hand. (fn. 124) It is likely to have
been worked from buildings near the church where
the present Manor Farm stands. There were 24
tenants in the late 13th century: 4 or 5 may have
held as much as a yardland each and the remainder
were apparently cottagers. (fn. 125) The only evidence of
common husbandry at Norton in the Middle Ages
is that of extensive pastures later divided. (fn. 126) Malmesbury abbey leased the whole manor and the
rectory estate in 1512. (fn. 127)

All Norton's land lay in closes in the 16th century when most was meadow or pasture. Cattle
rearing was apparently important then. Part of
Starvall was tilled. By 1589 a pasture called Wye
furlong, 150 a., had been divided into 3 closes;
Greenhill had been divided into Homeward
Greenhill, 11 a., and Great Greenhill, 36 a. subdivided into 3 closes; and New leaze and Luddocks
had apparently been divided respectively into 6
and 3 closes. (fn. 128) Broad leaze, 50 a., and Galley hill
and Ox leaze, 40 a. and 70 a. respectively and
both bounded by the Foss Way, were all divided
later. (fn. 129)

The north-west part of the parish was from the
late 16th or early 17th century Norton farm, (fn. 130)
worked until the early 20th century from Norton
Manor. (fn. 131) The farm was c. 177 a. in 1631, (fn. 132)c. 244
a. in 1652. (fn. 133) In the early 18th century there were
nine farms. The 636 a. of Norton manor was in
seven farms: Maidford was 140 a., Gorsey Leaze
108 a., Manor 100 a., and Starvall 20 a., and the
others were 102 a., 88 a., and 66 a. Gorsey Leaze
and Starvall were held together in 1707 and later. (fn. 134)
Fosse was a farm in 1742, (fn. 135) later of 20 a.; (fn. 136) Norton
farm was 264 a. in 1749. (fn. 137) In the earlier 18th century most land was still meadow and pasture. Only
about a fifth was arable and of that most, including
38 a. after burnbaking, was newly ploughed. (fn. 138) All
the farms were worked from buildings in the village except Maidford, Gorsey Leaze, and Fosse.
Of the six farms of Norton manor in 1780 Maidford
and Gorsey Leaze were held together, a total of
256 a.; two made up Manor, a total of 185 a.;
and two were held by John Buckland, a total of
192 a. (fn. 139)

In 1840 the parish contained c. 550 a. of meadow
and pasture and c. 380 a. of arable. The farms
were Manor, 299 a. in the south-west, Norton, 264
a., Maidford, 149 a., Gorsey Leaze, 149 a., Buckland, 83 a. between Manor and Norton farms, and
Fosse, 20 a. The 20 a. of Starvall was not included
in any of those farms. Arable exceeded meadow
and pasture on Manor and Norton farms; in the
east Maidford and Gorsey Leaze were predominantly grassland. (fn. 140) In the mid 19th century Maidford, Gorsey Leaze, and Starvall were sometimes
held together, as were Manor and Norton (fn. 141) In
1867 and 1877 grassland still exceeded arable and
the farming was mixed. (fn. 142) Manor farm was two
thirds arable in 1877, (fn. 143) Maidford less than a third
arable in 1894. (fn. 144)

There were four main farms in the parish in
the 20th century. (fn. 145) In the 1930s some nine tenths
of the parish were under permanent grass. (fn. 146) Later
there was more arable, and in 1987 the old parish
was about half arable and half pasture. Norton
farm, worked from the buildings erected outside
the village in the period 1900–11, absorbed Buckland farm. It was not leased and Noel Wilson kept
a herd of pedigree Herefordshire cattle on it. The
farm, c. 380 a., was an arable and beef farm in
1987. (fn. 147) Manor farm, 303 a. in 1940, (fn. 148) continued
to be worked from buildings near the church. It
was an arable and dairy farm in 1987. (fn. 149) Maidford
farm, 176 a. in 1958, (fn. 150) 152 a. in 1966, (fn. 151) was a
dairy farm in 1987. Gorsey Leaze farm was worked
by Jewish refugees in the Second World War. A
dairy herd was later kept on it, and it was still
grassland when it was broken up in the 1980s. (fn. 152)
On the land called Starvall the extensive buildings
of Highfield farm were erected in the later 20th
century. In 1987 c. 200 a. of Malmesbury common
was worked from them and they incorporated a
dairy. (fn. 153)

Norton is sparsely wooded. In 1631 a coppice
was said to have been newly planted. (fn. 154) Maidford
Copse was 4 a. in 1707. (fn. 155) A further 3 a. were
planted with trees between 1840 and 1877, (fn. 156) and
another small area between 1921 and 1951. (fn. 157) There
were c. 10 a. of woodland in the old parish in
1987.

Local Government.

In 1775–6 the
parish spent £45 on poor relief, and between 1782
and 1785 an average of £57. By 1802–3, when 12
adults and 20 children were continuously relieved,
expenditure had risen to £126. For a parish of Norton's size such figures were about average, but
in 1812–13, when 24 adults were relieved continuously, (fn. 158) and in the period 1817–20, when over
£200 a year was spent, spending on poor relief
was apparently above average. In the 1820s and
early 1830s it fluctuated between £81 and £166
and was again about average. (fn. 159) The parish joined
Malmesbury poor-law union in 1835, (fn. 160) and in 1974
became part of North Wiltshire district. (fn. 161)

Church.

Malmesbury abbey had a chapel at
Norton in 1151. (fn. 162) In 1222 the abbey was licensed
to appropriate it on condition that a vicarage was
ordained, (fn. 163) and the church was being served by
a vicar in 1283. (fn. 164) In 1976 the vicarage was united
with the benefice of Stanton St. Quintin and
Grittleton with Leigh Delamere and with the
vicarage of Hullavington. (fn. 165)

The advowson of the vicarage belonged to
Malmesbury abbey until the Dissolution. (fn. 166) The
king presented in 1283 and 1332, for reasons which
are not clear, (fn. 167) and in 1511 when the abbey was
vacant; (fn. 168) the bishop collated by lapse in 1363; (fn. 169)
and in 1533 Christopher Brown and Thomas Burnell presented by the abbey's grant. (fn. 170) The advowson was granted with Norton manor and the
rectory estate to Sir John Brydges in 1547 (fn. 171) and
descended with them to his son Edmund, Lord
Chandos, and to Edmund's son Giles, Lord Chandos. (fn. 172) Between 1589 and 1592 the advowson was
acquired by Sir John Danvers, who presented in
1592 (fn. 173) and died holding it in 1594. (fn. 174) In 1608 trustees of Sir John's son Henry, later earl of Danby,
presented with the consent of Sir John's relict
Elizabeth Carey. (fn. 175) No presentation between 1608
and 1675 is known. The advowson was, with
Bremilham manor, referred to in deeds effecting
the descent of Sir John Danvers's estate to Henry,
earl of Danby (d. 1644), and to Sir John Danvers
(d. 1655). There is no evidence that Sir John's
trustees sold the advowson of Norton with Bremilham manor in 1656 to Sir Thomas Estcourt, lord
of Norton manor and rectory, (fn. 176) and the advowson
was referred to in later deeds of the Danvers and
Wharton families, which retained the advowson
of Bremilham. (fn. 177) In 1675 and 1680, however, Sir
Thomas Estcourt presented, as his son Sir Thomas
did in 1687: (fn. 178) in each case the vicar was also rector
of Bremilham. (fn. 179) In 1713 the advowson was disputed between a trustee of Thomas Estcourt (d.
1704) and Thomas, earl of Wharton. Apparently
because the three previous presentations had not
been disputed, the trustee's claim was upheld, (fn. 180)
and he presented in 1713. (fn. 181) The advowson was
sold with Norton manor in 1714 and passed with
it until offered for sale in 1798. (fn. 182) In 1727 Robert
Greenway presented, presumably by grant of a
turn. (fn. 183) Robert Kilmister bought the advowson in
1802 and sold it in 1817 to Joseph Pitt. (fn. 184) In 1835
Pitt sold it to Joseph Neeld (fn. 185) and thereafter it
descended with Gorsey Leaze farm to Sir Audley
Neeld, Bt. (d. 1941). (fn. 186) It passed to Sir Audley's
second cousin L. W. Inigo-Jones (d. 1956), L.
W. Neeld from 1942, and in 1965 an executor of
L. W. Neeld presented. In 1971 Neeld's executors
transferred the advowson to his nephew R. W.
Inigo-Jones (later R. W. Neeld), who since 1976
has had the right to present a candidate for the
benefice of Stanton St. Quintin and Grittleton
with Leigh Delamere, Hullavington, and Norton
at every third turn. (fn. 187)

The vicarage, valued at 5 marks in 1535 (fn. 188) and
c. £20 in 1650, (fn. 189) was poor. It was augmented by
lot with £200 from Queen Anne's Bounty in
1809–10. (fn. 190) With a yearly income of £80 c. 1830,
it remained poor. (fn. 191) The vicar may have been entitled to tithes of hay and to small tithes in 1341. (fn. 192)
After the dispute of 1613–15 between the vicar
and the lessee of the rectory estate, (fn. 193) and presumably a compromise, the vicar was entitled to the
great tithes from 49 a. and to the small tithes from
the whole parish. His tithes were valued in 1840
at £100 and commuted. (fn. 194) The vicar had little glebe
in the later 16th century, and in 1672 he had only
two small pastures. (fn. 195) There was a small house on
the glebe north-east of the church in 1783, (fn. 196) said
c. 1833 to be unfit for residence. (fn. 197) In 1840 the
vicar owned the house and no other glebe. (fn. 198) The
house was rebuilt in 1856 and sold in 1956. (fn. 199)

In the 14th and 15th centuries most incumbencies were short, and no vicar is known to have
remained more than 20 years. (fn. 200) There is no evidence that a vicar lived in the parish. Richard Cox,
vicar from 1608 to 1650, when the county committee called him 'godly', (fn. 201) or later, may have done
so, but from 1675 most vicars were pluralists and
all apparently non-resident. John Stumpe, vicar
1675–80, was rector of Foxley and of Bremilham; (fn. 202)
Edmund Wayte, 1680–7, was rector of Bremilham; (fn. 203) John Harris, 1687–1713, was rector of
Easton Grey and of Bremilham; Timothy Millichamp, 1713–27, was rector of Long Newnton; (fn. 204)
Thomas Hornidge, 1752–96, was vicar of Coaley
(Glos.) and curate of Beverstone (Glos.), where
he lived; (fn. 205) Hornidge's son-in-law John Green,
1796–1837, lived at Hullavington and held curacies elsewhere; (fn. 206) W. S. Birch, 1837–46, was rector
of Easton Grey and of Luckington. (fn. 207) Curates were
often employed: (fn. 208) Simon Crook, curate 1716–18 (fn. 209)
or longer, also served Foxley, (fn. 210) and Thomas Jones,
curate 1793–1805 or longer, (fn. 211) was also curate of
Foxley and of Hullavington. (fn. 212) From 1846 to 1891
the Wiltshire antiquary J. E. Jackson, first editor
of the Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine, was
vicar. He was also rector of Leigh Delamere, where
he lived. (fn. 213) From 1870 he often employed a curate
to serve Norton. (fn. 214) His successor, C. T. Read,
1891–9, was also rector of Easton Grey, (fn. 215) and
Read's successors G. L. Pitt, 1899–1902, and H.
L. Warneford, 1902–46, were both rectors of Foxley with Bremilham. (fn. 216) From 1948 to 1973 the
vicarage was held in plurality with Hullavington
vicarage. (fn. 217)

In 1662 the church lacked a Book of Homilies
and Jewell's Apology. (fn. 218) In 1783 no curate was
employed and services were held on alternate Sundays by the vicar who lived at Beverstone. Communion was celebrated four times a year with seven
or eight communicants. Children were catechized
in summer. (fn. 219) The augmentation of 1809 was set
aside because the vicar would not consent to hold
a weekly service, and restored in 1810 when the
question of duty was referred to the bishop. The
vicar held two services on Sundays in 1832. (fn. 220) A
service was held every Sunday in the afternoon
in 1851: it was attended by 46 on Census Sunday. (fn. 221)
In 1903 there were two services on every second
and fourth Sunday of five, one on the other Sundays. (fn. 222) Few services were held in the church in
1987.

The church of ALL SAINTS, so called in 1763, (fn. 223)
is of limestone rubble with ashlar dressings and
consists of a chancel and a nave with north porch
and incorporating a west vestry surmounted by
a bellcot. The sizes of the chancel and the nave,
both small, are little changed from the 12th century, and there is a later 12th-century font in the
church. The east window is 13th-century, the west
window and a blocked south doorway are 14thcentury, and other windows are 15th- and 16th-century. The porch and the chancel roof are also
16th-century. In 1858 the west wall of the church
was rebuilt and the bellcot was replaced by
another, made in 1854 for Grittlcton House. (fn. 224) A
5-ft. high wall dividing the chancel and the nave
was removed in 1866 when the present chancel
arch was erected and the church was reseated. The
chancel and the sanctuary were raised in 1902,
and in 1910 they were panelled and the nave was
reroofed. (fn. 225) The pulpit incorporates early 17thcentury panelling.

The parish had a chalice of 8 oz. in 1553. (fn. 226) It
was replaced in the later 16th century by a cup
with a cover (fn. 227) which belonged to the parish in
1987. (fn. 228) A new silver paten was given in 1854. (fn. 229)
The church had two bells in 1553. (fn. 230) In the mid
19th century there was a bell cast by James Burrough, probably in the mid 18th century. (fn. 231) It was
rehung in 1926. (fn. 232) There was no parchment register
in 1662. (fn. 233) New registers were begun in 1663. (fn. 234)

Nonconformity.

Several inhabitants of
Norton in the late 17th century were Quakers, (fn. 235)
and in 1798 a meeting house for Independents was
certified. (fn. 236) There is no other evidence of dissent
in the parish.

Education.

Anne Jacob (d. 1710) gave by
will £100, which was invested in a rent charge of
£4 on an estate in Kenn (Som.), for teaching 12
children of poor inhabitants of Norton. The
teacher nominated in the will may already have
been teaching Norton children. The charity paid
for teaching until 1816, (fn. 237) when a master taught
6–10 children, (fn. 238) but there was apparently no special school building. The income of the charity
was lent informally from 1816 to 1834 when accumulated income of £68 was invested. From 1846
or earlier to 1890 the income was paid to a
schoolmistress. (fn. 239) The school was attended by 8
in 1846–7, (fn. 240) by 12 in 1859 when the schoolroom
was in the rebuilt house on the glebe, (fn. 241) and by
13 in 1871. (fn. 242) J. E. Jackson (d. 1891) gave by will
£231 to raise the capital of Jacob's chanty to £300,
but from 1894, when a new school was built at
Foxley, no school was held at Norton. The income
from the Jacob and Jackson charities was given
to Foxley school which was attended by Norton
children. (fn. 243) Under a Scheme of 1905 prizes, bursaries, and outfits for those taking up a trade might
be given. The two charities were merged by a
Scheme of 1935, and secondary education and
apprenticing thereby made the preferred objects. (fn. 244)
In the 1970s and 1980s the income, £29, was used
occasionally for grants to promote education. The
rent charge from Kenn was redeemed in 1977. (fn. 245)